The Witch Head Nebula

Cosmic Sorcery: The Witch Head Nebula

Join me on a cosmic journey to the hauntingly beautiful Witch Head Nebula, floating 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.

This spectral cloud, shaped like a witch’s profile, stretches across space illuminated by nearby stars, including the bright Cursa (β Eri). If you look closely, you can also spot Kursi al Jauzah II (ψ Eri) further down.

In the background, several faint galaxies—millions of light-years away—are visible, including NGC 1720, NGC 1726, NGC 1752, NGC 1779, and others, hiding among the nebula’s tendrils. What you’re seeing is the combined glow of starlight reflected in the dust, enhanced by H-alpha data that brings out the rich, deep-red hydrogen gas lingering in the area—an essential element for star formation.

This nebula reveals how the interplay of light and gas creates such a mesmerizing cosmic scene.

Equipment:

• Telescope: RedCat 51 II

• Camera: ZWO Astrophotography ASI2600MM Pro

• Mount: Sky-Watcher Australia NEQ6-Pro

Imaging Dates:

• Sept. 19 - 24, 2024

• Oct. 5 - 7, 2024

Technical Details:

• Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha: 114×600″ (19h)

• Baader Blue: 43×300″ (3h 35′)

• Baader Green: 27×300″ (2h 15′)

• Baader Red: 37×300″ (3h 5′)

• Total Integration: 27h 55′

Copyright: Rod Prazeres